Tube end cleaner



Aug. 29, 1933. F. F. FISHER 1,924,682

TUBE END CLEANER Filed Jan. 29, 1931 27? 51 wz$ =2 aw Patented Aug. 29; 1933 g This invention relates general to means for cleaning tubular bodies', such as boiler tubes, ,wherein it is desiredto obtain a clean andmore or less polished outer surface at the end of the i i 5 tube; and concerns itself ;more particularly with improvements in the device disclosed in my copending' application, 1 Serial Number 359 788, filed May2,1929. Broadly; the invention my c e-pending application comprises guidingmeans in the form of a frame adapted to engage the outer periphery v of a ,tube to ,be cleaned and suitably driven rotatable means mounted in the guiding means and provided with abrasive holders in the form of hold the abrasive element in spacedrelation to the periphery of the tube, andweightedso as-to' be actuated by the centrifugal force due tothe rotation of the rotatablemeans. action of ments into wiping contactwith the peripheryof thetube end and exert apressure thereon which is controlled orvdetermined bythe speed of oper-' ation oftherotatable means. Further, the abrasive elements therein are rigidly secured to the rocker arms.

In the presentinvention; ihave provided novel means wherein the" abrasive elments are resiliently secured to the rocker-arms. arrange ment, Ihav found from experience, actsasga shock and'vibration absorber and'prevents transmission to the abrasive elements of the vibrations,

and shocks due to thepperation ofthe'device. V

braces improved means for holding in proper cuttingpositio'n; Another object of my present provide an improved supportjfor the abrasive eler 4 ment in a tube cleane r which is designed to support the abrasive elementin aflexible manner,

, so that vibrations and shocks due to-the operation of the machine willnot'be transmitted to the abrasive elements.

It is a further object vide a support for'the abrasive elements in a tube cleaning device, adapted to prevent the vibrations and shocks dueto the operation of the device from.

'being transmittd to the abrasive elementsthei'e- 1 "by effectinga tube cleaner which is very eflicient 1 in' operation and whichwill have a minimum of abrasive element breakages dueto vibration of they 'device when operating. a on y v It isalso' an' object of: the inventionlto ,pro-. vide an improved support for the abrasive element rocker arms which are springloaded to normally the arms is effective to move the abrasive; ele- It is,rtherefore, an object of" this inventionto' provide a devicev for cleaning tubes whichcm the, abrasive -which similar,reference numerals refer t o similar 95" of this invention to pro? 1924382 4 V A a v END ms v Fisher, z.

' Application w s as; 1931 seen; n 51sec; Q .1

7 Claims; (01.31 73). 2

which is soldesigned that theabrasive ie ntfjis securely held against axial]movement 'relative thereto,- and-which permitsflofianlaxial adjust,- a ment of theelement'in" a quiclgand easy manner j to compensate for wear. v

In acordance with the general-features o f iz this invention, I provide arocke'r arni having a weight: ed portion which subjectfto; the centrifugal. I forcescreated by the operation of my deviceQ-this arm bleingv adapted for thepivotalsecurement to 5 thetube cleaner frameofopposedclampingmem a bars, which are arrangedfor clamping around the'i abrasive element v Resilient or rub be r padding is disposed, between the .contact surfaces not t the vclamping members where they engage the tibia} i V sive element andthe aforementioned arm. a

A further feature of the invention residesin the provision of clamping members forfgrip pingthe abrasive element which-iare in threaded,

engagement with the; element. Theupper-endo f 75 the'abrasive element is countersunk or recessed for receivinga tool by means of which when-the clamping 7 elements are loosened; slightly, the

abrasive elementgmay be rotated" a desired J a amount and moved axially? 'byilvirtuej,.of ,the- 8 0 *threadedengagement with Ithe clamping mg bers to compensate for wear. ;Wit h,this arrange mentall of-theabrasive elements may beequally adjusted by turning each one acorresponding amount. Thus the'necessityof measuring eaeh 7 element to obtain the correct adjustmentjis obviated. 7

The invention comprises ,ths iovel structure" r nd combinationofgp arts" hereinafter described a a i I v jandrnore particularly pointed out and defined QO in: the appended claims;

a 7 I'In the accompanyingdrawing -illustrates' invention is toa, preferred embodiment ofthi's invention and in features in the difierentviews:

Figure 1 is an elevation showing the-applica 1 tioniof mylfpresent invention to a de vice as {disclosed-in my copending application, i Figure 2 isan enlarged'fragmentaryplan view qpartlyp in-.- 'cross section showing the operative 10 relationship between the centrifugally actuated arm and the means for resiliently, mounting the abrasive element holder on the armjw r I 1 Figure 3 is anenlarged fragmentary sectional view through the abrasive element, and clamp; a ,showin epaddin tween c a n di e v 1' abrasive element and arm; taken; substantially" a :3 Figure 4 is .a sectional -view 'ta k en 1 .tially on line :IV- -lYbf Figure m and bers and" 11 whichare adapted to be'clamped ition' of a modified form of myinvention in which the abrasive element and clamping members vare in threaded engagement. 7

As illustrative of my invention, I havevshown in Figurepl a-pair of opposed clamping memby meanszof clamping screws 12'around the stationary housihg lof suitable power means havagesis very materially reduced e ing -a driving shaft 131 It is contemplated-What the device of my inventionm'ay be connectedtov 1 any type of power means,}such, for: example,

'as an electric motor or pneumatic motor.' The 3 clamping members '10 andll are provided fjwith aplurality of circumferentially spaced bracket 7 members 14 which project beyond the :end of the rotatableshaft 13- of the power means and have secured at their outer endjs'by bolts lfi a guide member 16 which is V provided with a..;-centra1; hub 17 to engage and fit the periphery of the tubeQ'the'end of which is' to befc'le'aned; It will benoited that the me 1': is concentric or the shaft 13 an'd serves {to maintain the idevice' 'in proper operating positioii'j: fa a Securedto the shaft 1 3--as-by a key 18 is a Vtransversely extendihg member l9 having for- 1 wardly projectinglarmsfifi disposedat its ends' was to' revolveearound the center line' of the shaft 13,- when it isrotated. The 'free-end' of each arrn2uisofjreducedcross section as shown at 21 for 'receiving-thereover a hub- 22 to form.

a pivotal mounting for a' rocker arm integral of a was erg-zr mch engages a shoulder 25 againsewmes it is lre'lcl by meansof a suitable off'aa'coil spring being provided fbetweeathe washer '24' and the i'oute'rend of the hub 22 'topermit freer-movement 1 on the hub about the contracted portion 2 1. One element'of the rocker arm is weighted as I shown at 23 and the other'felement thereof is in '1 the form offaflug 129 to which the abrasive x,elementfi is'connected by means of'a clamp.

The rocker-arm is-normallyj urged in a counter clockwise direction as viewed'in Figure lyby me'ahs 31 which surrounds the con-' "tracted portion 21, andisgfretained within a counterboref32- at the inner end-"0f thejhub -22c One" end of this spring engages af-pin 33f fixedly, secured in thej'fiange 23' of the. arm 20,fand,the a I K V means'is nowstarted; whereuponth? shaftilziwill other end engages thehujbf22. .1

The abrasive e1ement.30, --which is preferably ofeircular cross sectionv is supported on' thelu'g 29 of the rocker arm by-means-of a pair of oppositely I I a v V I which are conformedto engage the surface'of the disposed 'which is preferablyof rubberalthoughgit is-c'ontemplated that other materials may be used with equal facility. This merriber'is co-ex'tensivewith theinner surface of the-clamping member "with which it is associated; re -lugs-37are inwardly deflecte'd to form portion-S 41 and-42 which extend over the upperand lower surfacesof -i' the lug 29 and thusallow asligh't'IrQtatiOnaL movement-of 4 T the -'clampirig members 3-4 and 35 together with the abrasive element 30 about the blamping bolt disposed lclampin'g members 34 :and 35 "These clamping members t'erelernent are resiliently mounted relative to the will be obvious "arm 29, thereby preventing vibrations and shocks, l

due to the operation of the device from being cartageous result that the number of elementbreak- 'In' order tofprevent flying'partieles of abrasive material and particles which have been removed from the pipe from flying into the surrounding space, and to prevent the operator of the device from being injured by these particlesa protective shield: or guard143 is securedtothe bracket mem here 14 so afstko completely surround therotative elements of my device.

fiinthe modified .form or my invention; the clamping members 34 and 3 5 arerthreaded as 'ried tothe abrasive element with the advan shown atas-"for'iengagemerit with threads 45 farmed on the' abrasiveelement 30.. The resilient pads 40 asinthe preferredf orm of niyinvention are disposed between the abrasive elerrient and the clamping members The upper end of the abrasive element is recessed or countersunk. as

ice

clamping members when the-clampihg' fbolts 38 and 39' are l'oojsened slight'ly. Accessto' the recessed por tiorref the abrasive element is facili tated by providing an 'aperture 47- in thegua'rd 43 which isin alignment with the recessedendoz t the abrasive-element; "By means of this arrange "inent I the abrasive" elementsmay be equally 'ad- "ju's'te'd to'coiripensate for wearby giving each= "eiement aicorrespond'ihg tu'rn; Thusfthe nec'es sity of measuring eachel'ement to adjust itto the proper length is obviated-and much time i's -therebysaved.

Briefly theoperationof myfdevicei's as follows:

*The'device isapplie'd to theend 61131161311139 to v be cleaned by passing the hub :17 over "the tlbe ehd to such an'extent thatrthe abrasivefelements will engage the-peripheral portion thereof 1163;

sprihgs'fallk upcnthe rocker The farmer be rotated and" revolve the, abrasive j elements "around the tube; As thepower means comes up the end to' b e,;clean'ed, fIn thisiposi-tion the devicejis" ready, for operation and it willibe Lneted I that the abrasive elements war-seem or engage mer t *witlr the f tube -due 'to the action of the,

"28' *sothatf theywill qnove outwardly from the tube against the zesistancejgoithe sprm 3.1 thereby bringing the inner face c: the abrasive. i616- inent into contact with the outer .surfaceofthe 1 tube, "the resulting pressure :of'th'e abrasive elejment. enm mbe being determinedby. .th'e espe'ed of rotation of thepower means tshaftdS-fliltiis r thereforetobvious 1 that this speed may :be regu- .lated to produce ex'actlythe desired:amourlt ofpressure and "the"-continuedzoperatioa of thexle- :vi'ce will result in .:a wipingiandqpolishing action ,1

oft-he abrasive on' the surface of :thetube tojprm 1 duce a very rdesira'ble and; even cleaning as a result of being able t6 maintain an" even pressure upon the abrasive elemen'tz Upon stoppingthe' "motor the abrasive elements'30 will-beauto- :matically moved out of engagement with the tube end .adue to the operationgofgthe springs 31,; since I H when the rotational movement is suspended there will be no centrifugal force acting-against the pressure of these springs.- It is also obvious that this arrangement permits the device to bejquickly- V and easily used for cleaning tubes, without the necessity of having to make a'lotof preliminary adjustments thereon. The present invention, therefore, provides, an improved tube end cleaner having novel means vided for axially adjusting the abrasive elements to compensate for wear.

Now, I desire it understoodthat, although I have illustrated'and described in detail the preferred form of my invention, the invention is not to be thus limited but only in so, far as defined by the scope and spirit of theappencled claims;

I claim as my invention:

1. A portable tube end polishing device comprising a rotatable structurehaving a plurality of members formed thereon androtatablethere-. with, a pair of confronting clamping members connected to each of said members, an abrasive element disposed between-and clamped by each pair of clamping members, resilient means disposed between said first members and the' adjacent clamping members, andgmeans for actuating said clamps to grip said abrasive element and said resilient means.

2. A portable tube end polishing device comprising a rotatable structurehaving a plurality of members formed thereon and rotatable 'there-' with, a' pair of confronting: clamping members;

pivotally connected to each of said members, 'an

abrasive element disposed between each pair of clamping members, means for actuating said clamping members, resilient means between said' clamping members and the associated abrasive element; and means for limiting the pivotal movement oi saidcla'mpin'g members and the abprising a rotatable structure having a plurality;

"rasive' element gripped thereby relative to their associatedfirst members i I V 3. ,A portable tube end polishing device comof members formed thereon and rotatable there in such a manner as tocenable and gauge the with, a pair-of confronting clamping members pivotally connected to each of'saidfrnembers, an

abrasive elementdisposed between each pair of clamping members, means for. actuating said "clamping members, resilient means between'said 8 clamping members and the associatedabrasive" f element, and flanges formed at the secured end of saidfclamping members for engaging said first member to limit the pivotal movement of said,

clamping members relativefto their associated Q first members. r y 1 4. In a tube end polishing device the co'mb'ina tionqof an abrasive element with a support for said element, said support comprising-clamping members, said-clamping members and said element includingthreaded portions co-engagingf axial movement of said support. a 5. In a tube end polishing device, a pair of clamping members and an abrasive'element dis- I posed between' said members, saidelement' and members having interfitting threads whereby the element relative to said I element may be moved axiallyaj desired amount f to compensate for wear. a a a H 6. A tube end polishing device comprising a "rotatable structure having afplurality of members formed thereon androtatable therewith, a I pair of confronting clamping elements pivotally connected to each of said members, ajstick of abrasive disposed between each pair of clamping elements, means to actuatesaid clamping ele- 7 ments, means to limit the pivotal movement of each pair of clamping elements relative to their associated membenand a yieldable material dis posed between said clamping elements, and said ments and stick of abrasive. i l, c '7. A tube end polishinjgdevice comprising a ro- .latter' means, and between 'said' clamping elea tatable structure having a plurality of members 5 formed thereon and rotatable therewith, a pair .of confronting clamping elements pivotally con-,- jnected to each" of said members, a stick of abrasivedispjosed between' each pair. of clamping eleg ments,-means toactuatesaidclamping elements, ,1

fiangesiform'ed at thepivoted ends of the clamping elements to engage said firstmembers to limit I A V the pivotal movementi of the clamping elements relative thereto,"and resilient means coextensive x with theconfronti'ng surfaces of the clamping- 25';

elements and extending between saidfianges and I first members. l

' FRANK,,F. FIsHE 

